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His first trip was at RAF Wittering in a GR7 Harrier of 1(F) Squadron in one of their last sorties before relocation to RAF Cottesmore, followed the next day by a sortie with 20(R) Sqn in a T10 Harrier.

His presence was then requested by OC 70 Sqn at RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, who was planning a round-the-world trip in a C130. Harry-Air left Lyneham on August 2nd bound for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. When he returned to the UK on August 17th he had visited Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Australia, American Samoa, Hawaii, USA, Puerto Rico and a second trip to USA.

Whilst at Lyneham Harry-Air took the opportunity to fly on the rest of the C130 Squadrons. These included a trip to Kosovo on a Humanitarian Relief sortie and 3 parachute descents with the RAF Falcons parachute display team at RAF Odiham Air Day (3000' descent), the Battle of Britain display at Tangmere (6000' descent) and the Formula 1 display at Donnington Park (12000' descent). Before he got his breath back he was posted (literally, by Royal Mail) to RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

On arrival Harry-Air went supersonic in the rear seat of a 56(R) Sqn F3 Tornado, was graded Operationally Acceptable by the Tornado OEU and flew an air display at Middle Wallop in the only airworthy Lancaster in Europe. He departed Coningsby (once again by mail) and arrived at RAF Leuchars, Fife, on 26th September. As well as flying with the F3 Sqns at Leuchars and trying out the latest technology Night Vision Goggles, Harry-Air took advantage of the hospitality and flew with Leuchars' resident University Air Sqns and 3 Flight Army Air Corps. However the highlight of his time at Leuchars has to be the two test flights he flew in the Eurofighter Typhoon, twice going supersonic at Mach 1.65. The test pilot was very happy to declare that "Harry-Air Bear's ears remain attached at supersonic speeds."

From Leuchars Harry-Air was off to Lossiemouth, Morayshire, where he flew in the 3 GR1 Tornado Sqns. This included an air combat sortie with 617 Sqn during which he claimed to have 'shot down' an F3 of 11 Sqn. (Which may not have been too clever as he is yet to visit 11 Sqn.) Once complete at Lossiemouth it was only a short journey in the SATC0s car to RAF Kinloss and a few hours flying and eating doughnuts over the North Sea with the Nimrod Sqns. On one sortie he managed to get through one chicken curry, two doughnuts, six mugs of tea, one Mars Bar and two sick bags.

The first part of Operation Harry-Air Bear came to a close with Harry-Air returning back to Wittering, via Cottesmore, in the rear seat of a 1(F) Sqn Harrier T10 on 9th November.

Operation 'Harry-Air' Bear has quite literally 'taken-off.'